Was the taco as we know it invented in LA? Hear from the giants behind mega chains El Torito and Taco Bell as we trace the history of the taco in America.

Is there a future in food writing? An influential writer says yes, but it's not what it used to be. Plus, the hunt for morels and foraging for wild fennel in LA.

Does it matter who authors a cookbook if the recipes work? Discover the secret life of a cookbook ghostwriter. Plus, soda versus pop, a linguist explains.

Find out why ketchup became America's favorite condiment. Learn how to make mustard at home. Plus, how race, war and politics created white bread.

Discover where and what to eat and drink at Coachella this year. What barrel aging can do to the flavor of a cocktail, and how to host a New Orleans-style crawfish boil.

Two chefs are giving gefilte fish a makeover this Passover. We decode the aisles of chile paste in a Korean grocery store. Plus, why this year's Farm Bill matters to you.

We know what a food desert is, but what about a food forest? Plus, tips on how to nail perfectly melted cheese, and a look at water contamination in Central California.

Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? According to the Supreme Court, it's both. Plus, how to cook an Irish breakfast and a salute to the cookies you twist, lick and dunk.

What happens when you mix brains and mayonnaise? Yup...brainaise! Could irradiation be the key to food safety? Plus, a walking food tour of Boyle Heights.

Could Detroit be the next frontier of urban farming? With 40 square miles of vacant land it just might be. Plus, what phosphate free detergent is doing to your dishes.

Do you find certain foods disgusting? A psychologist explains why. Schnapps finds a home in LA and a lesson on how to order street food.

Fondant, most commonly seen on wedding cakes, is more complicated than it seems. Could your next cocktail come from a keg? Plus, how to make the most of truffle season.

An architect deconstructs pasta shapes with mathematics. The Freshman 15 could happen to those who don?t go to college, and is Slow Food USA losing its base?

Google?s executive chefs on the 28 cafes where Googlers can get free food at work. Also, Ho Chi Minh, a baker? Plus, an update on the classic boiler maker.

Myanmar is in the midst of a coming out party. Could that mean more Burmese food on the menu? Plus, a mall food court that resembles Los Angeles.

Goat milk isn't just for cheese. One family's making soap with their excess milk. Lessons in cooking with economy and grace. Plus, is kosher meat safer than non-kosher?

A ramen aficionado's history lesson on the popular noodle, a mother-in-law's 21-year-old kimchi recipe goes to New York, and a doctor on how vinegar can save your life.

The food and drink of Mad Men is a glimpse of 1960 trends. A honey sommelier decodes the honey jar and Evan Kleiman says closing Angeli was the hardest decision of her life.

The best segments of 2011, including: eating dirt, Vincent Price the gourmand, eating in Ancient Rome, cocktail bitters and a trip to Lonchera Lane in Orange County.

Want luck and prosperity in the New Year? Try a bowl of Hoppin? John. Paris pastry chefs are creating buche de noel in fabulous new shapes, and a tree scientist explains why the American chestnut is in danger.

An expert tells us her favorite cookbooks of 2011. Plus, holiday beer selections and a lesson in how to make Swedish Glögg offer alternatives to wine.

Fruitcake makes a comeback. Cooking on the open fire doesn't necessarily require a grill. Plus, learn how not to get duped next time your at the fish counter...

A comeback for cocktail bitters, making your own flavored liqueurs at home, and a beer bar that serves Lucky Charm Pancakes with Fruity Pebbles Whipped Cream.

Holiday gift ideas for cooks and eaters -- artisanal salts, heirloom beans, direct trade coffee and kitchen gadgets. Plus, preserving the season for delicious DIY gifts.

Turkey in a pillowcase, and turkey deep fried! Plus, Thanksgiving crab cakes in Alaska and, here in LA, pumpkin shows up in dinner rolls, stuffing and a Margarita.